WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010

ASPEN COMICS FOR JUNE

SMALLVILLE: "CHECKMATE"

The CW has released an image gallery from "Checkmate," the Friday, April 9 episode of Smallville.

The episode guest-stars Pam Grier as Amanda Waller.

Grier is shown in the images along with Tom Welling, who plays Clark Kent.

The network has yet to release a description of the episode.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images and look for more Smallville news soon here in The Continuum.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT TO PUBLISH VAMPIRELLA

Dynamite Entertainment has announced it has acquired the Vampirella property from Harris Publications.

Nick Barrucci, president of Dynamite Entertainment said, "Vampirella is one of the most well-known and longest-running comic characters in the history of the business. Outside of Marvel and DC characters, very few comics characters that debuted in the 60's still resonate with fans today. Our acquisition of this iconic brand is another step in Dynamite's exciting growth and builds on the ongoing success of our line."

"I am incredibly pleased to be passing the stewardship of Vampirella on to Dynamite," said Stanley Harris, president of Harris Publications. "Dynamite has proven to be one of the premiere publishers in the comic book industry, and Vampirella couldn't be in better and more caring hands!"

According to Dynamite, it will announce specific plans for the character soon.

BLUEWATER'S KRISTEN STEWART BIO-COMIC

Bluewater Productions has announced it will feature actress Kristen Stewart -- who plays Bella in the Twilight movies -- in its Fame series of biography comics books in June.

Stewart is also featured in The Runaways, opening this week.

Writer Kim Sherman, who has also handled Bluewater's Robert Pattinson entry in the series, said that Stewart's versatility and talent might surprise readers who only know her as Bella.

"For Twilight fans, Kristen Stewart is a woman whom fans long to be and love to hate," Sherman said. "But Kristen has been in the public eye for years, and her career as a serious actor spans dozens of films over a 10-year period of time. My goal with this biography was to show readers the depth residing in this young woman and the roles she's beautifully tackled through a series of spot shots, pinups and word art."

The art for the 32-page book is by Warren Martineck.

Two covers will be availabe, one by Juanmar Studios which attaches like a puzzle to Bluewater's Fame: Robert Pattinson issue, and the other by Randy Green.

DC COMICS: BATMAN ROUNDUP

DC Comics has unveiled the cover for the first issue of the Batman Beyond mini-series, set to launch in June.

The six-issue mini-series is written by Adam Beechen, with art by Ryan Benjamin. It involves a mystery murderer from Batman's past.

The cover is by Dustin Nguyen.

In other Batman news:

* Writer Judd Winick and artist Pablo Raimondi are teaming on Red Hood: The Lost Days, a six-issue mini-series set to launch in June.

Plans are for the first two issues to ship before the release of the animated movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood, which was also written by Winick.

* The Ame-Comi series Batman and Robin PVC figures and the Gotham City Stories Part 1: Batman Statue all will now be in stores on April 7.

* First Wave #2 will not be in stores on April 21.

ARCHIE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five- to six-page previews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on March 24, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Archie #607 and Archie's Double Digest #207.

SYFY'S SUPER-HERO PROJECTS

Syfy has announced a June debut for The Phantom and a super-hero pilot as part of its upfront presentation.

The Phantom will be a four-hour event, with specific dates to be announced. The mini-series has already aired in international markets.

Here's how Syfy describes The Phantom:

"Ryan Carnes stars as The Phantom and his alter ego Chris Walker in this re-imagined version of the classic comic strip transported to present day. A favorite costumed hero for more than six decades, The Phantom relies on his wits, physical strength and skill with weapons instead of superhuman powers. Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet) guest stars in a villainous turn as Lithia, the head of an experimental mind control program. Also starring are Cameron Goodman as Chris Walker's love interest, Renny, and Sandrine Holt (24,The L Word) as The PhantomÕs trusted advisor Guran."

Syfy has ordered the 90-minute pilot Three Inches from writer/exectuve producer Harley Peyton. The action-adventure/fantasy will be produced by Fox Television Studios and Executive Producer Bob Cooper, whose Landscape Entertainment is producing.

Here's how Syfy describes Three Inches:

"Professional daydreamer and underachiever, Walter, is struck by lightning, and develops a unique 'super' power -- the ability to move any object using just his mind... but only a distance of three inches. He's soon recruited by a covert team of superheroes each gifted with their own extraordinarily ordinary abilities. Together, the unlikely band of heroes proves that 'super' is simply a state of mind."

"Three Inches is a fun, smart, off-beat spin on the superhero genre. It introduces a new group of crime fighters who possess some imaginative Š if not all that super -- powers," said Mark Stern, executive vice-president of development for Syfy.

MAY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP

For previously posted May solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:

BRIEFLY

* The Kick-Ass screening at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas last week drew a throng of representatives from the movie, including Clark Duke, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aaron Johnson, John Romita Jr., Mark Millar and Matthew Vaughn.